Oil Tanker hits Bridge

[Jim Ernst]

Just to keep things accurate:

"... Bar pilots, all veteran captains, guide ships in and out of San Francisco Bay. When a ship is leaving the bay, as the Cosco Busan was today, the vessel's captain has overall responsibility, but the bar pilot is at the controls until the ship clears the San Francisco bar channel, about 15 miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge ..." Container ship hits Bay Bridge tower - fuel spills, but span undamaged

Hmmm..... thanks guys, thats some interesting info!

 

[Charlie99]

The reporting on this incident has been kind of weird. First 140 gallons, then 100,000, then 80k, then the current 58,000 gallon estimate.

There was also a lot of confusion about the bar pilot. The Coast Guard had a news conference yesterday where they said that the pilot was no longer onboard when they boarded the ship, and that he didn't have a drug & alcohol test until yesterday morning, 26 hours after the incident. 3 hours after the press conference, they had another press conference where they said that he was still onboard when CG boarded and that he had a drug & alcohol test within the required 2 hour period. Very strange.

Another interesting tidbit was the Caltrans (Calif. highway dept) guy that said that the bridge piers have a fender structure that is not coupled into the bridge pier and that the collision only involved that structure, and that no loads were ever transmitted to the bridge.

Yet another weird part of the local TV reports were the news anchors referring to a "tanker" while showing a video clearly showed a Hanjin container ship with a big long gash down the side.

 

[Jim Ernst]

The reporting on this incident has been kind of weird. First 140 gallons, then 100,000, then 80k, then the current 58,000 gallon estimate.

There was also a lot of confusion about the bar pilot. The Coast Guard had a news conference yesterday where they said that the pilot was no longer onboard when they boarded the ship, and that he didn't have a drug & alcohol test until yesterday morning, 26 hours after the incident. 3 hours after the press conference, they had another press conference where they said that he was still onboard when CG boarded and that he had a drug & alcohol test within the required 2 hour period. Very strange.

Another interesting tidbit was the Caltrans (Calif. highway dept) guy that said that the bridge piers have a fender structure that is not coupled into the bridge pier and that the collision only involved that structure, and that no loads were ever transmitted to the bridge.

Yet another weird part of the local TV reports were the news anchors referring to a "tanker" while showing a video clearly showed a Hanjin container ship with a big long gash down the side.

Ya I caught a lot of the same Charlie, it all seems to be a mess of confusion and I doubt that we will ever get all of the true facts!

 

[sarita75]

I think it was a Hanjin transporter v. a tanker. On a somewhat related/unrelated note - I don't know why a tanker would be going under the Bay Bridge. All the oil companies are north bay... right?

 

[dannobee]

It was a container ship headed for the Port of Oakland. The port of Oakland is just south of the Bay Bridge. Also, the ships will anchor west of the port of Oakland, near San Carlos/Redwood City.

 

[Bubble Maker]

From my own observations - the fog was really thick that morning - such that I was actually doing things like slowing speed, hazard lights, etc. Unfortunately, the effects are obvious. You can see the oil at certain times on the waters and there are beach closures along the headlands and through to Ocean Beach in the city. Some reports have come in, I believe, up to Muir Beach have people reported oil in the water/on beach. Most unfortunately for the sealife. I guess the Marine Center has been doing what they can for the Seals, etc. Pretty gross and unfortunate though.

Just wish that I knew where to go to give a hand.

UC Davis: Oiled Wildlife Care Network

 

[sarita75]

Thanks Bubble_Maker!!

 

[Bubble Maker]

You're welcomed!

 

[mobeeno]

This morning I jogged by the shoreline. Vultures are pretty active having dead birds for breakfast before the volunteers could get to them.

 

[dlndavid]

An Oil Tanker hit the oakland bay bridge yesturday and has leaked enough oil to spred 40 miles north of San Francisco into the North coast area and I am told is devastating the shore line's of Northern California!!


Anyone seen or heared anything more or new on this topic??

Ship hits Bay Bridge, spills oil - Los Angeles Times

sure did Jim, the waters are clear, now the focus is on the beaches.